Never buy a tablet that has a 5 watt or hotter CPU inside. Surface Pros are fail IMO while Surface 3 OTOH is a good device since it doesn't get hot, only warm.
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Surface Pro 4 first impressions
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Never buy a tablet that has a 5 watt or hotter CPU inside. Surface Pros are fail IMO while Surface 3 OTOH is a good device since it doesn't get hot, only warm.
The Core M3 in my SP4 is a 4.5-5W TDP, which puts it in line with Apple's higher end A series chips, and even it can end up on the hot end of warm when you push it.
when both of my Surface Pros were working correctly without software issues, heat wasn't an issue. Until chip manufacturing reaches a new level the performance hit of an arbitrary 5W level wouldn't interest me at all. surface 3 is a good example
Double quote!
So I did the update. To test it out, I charged the SP4 up to full, then unplugged it around 2:30 AM ish and put it to sleep. I just now opened it up at 11:49 AM, and found I still had 97% of my battery after all that time. So after about 9 hours, I've only lost 3% of my battery.
Since this has only been one test, I can't tell if this is all due to a fluke, or something else strange going on behind the scenes, but for now, the update seems to have made a MASSIVE amount of difference in battery drain while in standby.
Sounds like it went to sleep without connected-standby. Try pinging it if it responds before you wake it back up. That's one area where Intel is deficient compared to ARM.
I've been an Apple fan boy since 1988. I suffered through the 1990's and the "near demise" of Apple and I have never owned a MS product. (Office, Windows, PC, XBox, etc)
HOWEVER...
I do like SP4. It would make an excellent drawing tablet. I would have probably already picked one up if they hadn't switched to the NTrig technology (in the SP3) that has caused a lot of artists some hassle. Still, I have to say, it's a nice machine and I'm surprised I want it so much.
HOWEVER...
I do like SP4. It would make an excellent drawing tablet. I would have probably already picked one up if they hadn't switched to the NTrig technology (in the SP3) that has caused a lot of artists some hassle. Still, I have to say, it's a nice machine and I'm surprised I want it so much.
The upcoming iPad pro got me interested in tablets with a digitizer pen. I wanted something for technical note taking, and after some research bought the surface pro 3. I was frustrated by the size of the device, wanting something that could function as a tablet. When Microsoft announced the surface book I returned the surface pro, intending to buy the surface book when it came out. But after some thought and research, I decided I didn't particularly want to disconnect the tablet from the keyboard; I just wanted something where I could fold the keyboard backward and draw on the screen with a pen. So I bought the Lenovo Thinkpad 14 through best buy, and bought the digitizer pen through Lenovo. The latter just arrived, and so far I'm happy with the set up.
You can also do it when creating an account during the installation and setup process, but it requires something like clicking 'cancel' (I can't remember exactly but it's entirely not intuitive) and then it gives you the option to create a local account. I do it all the time because I can't set up new machines with our domain account until after I log in with a local account.
I'm really tempted to upgrade but your issues are pretty much what I'd be worried about in leaving my SP3 which has become rock solid, cool, quiet, with good if not yet great battery life over the past month or so of updates. With the new type cover and pen I'm happier with it now than I've been in the year I've owned it.
Thinkpads are nice and the rumored X1 tablet and Yoga are interesting and lighter.
http://winfuture.de/news,89654.html
Just wiped the software in my SP4, and bringing it back to the Microsoft Store tomorrow. I am, however, keeping the new keyboard for my SP3. Oddly enough, the SP4 choked and bombed, when I tried to wipe it. Pretty sure it cleared all my data, and I didn't yet have much on there anyhow, but it failed during the OS reinstall process. And this is typical two what I've been seeing with the SP4.
Overall, if I didn't already have a very solid SP3, I'd keep the SP4. But just not enough of an improvement over my 3 to warrant the cost and hassles. I'm pretty sure, since most of what I've seen are software/firmware issues, that things will get much better over time. But I just can't trust it, in its current state, over my rock solid SP3. Since I can't afford to keep both systems, SP4 is going back.
Overall, if I didn't already have a very solid SP3, I'd keep the SP4. But just not enough of an improvement over my 3 to warrant the cost and hassles. I'm pretty sure, since most of what I've seen are software/firmware issues, that things will get much better over time. But I just can't trust it, in its current state, over my rock solid SP3. Since I can't afford to keep both systems, SP4 is going back.
I've tried pinging it on the network twice now. First while I had it asleep all night, and just now while I have it closed and on the charger. Timed out on both.
So at the very least, it isn't fully accessible on the network while in a low power state.
I finally had a chance to use my new keyboard. I was debating whether to keep it or take it back (still in the packaging but I bit the bullet and wow. It is great. I was using my SP3 last night in my recliner and the key action was much improved, the backlighting was a Godsend and the trackpad was a bit better.
I'm surprised you even had to debate this. The new keyboard is easily THE most immediately noticeably improved thing to come along with the SP4.
I'm willing to bet that if I had to stick with the SP3 style keyboards, I'd probably be using mine as a tablet far more often than I current am. I only wish the trackpad was just a little taller so I could scroll to all 4 corners of the screen without having to lift my finger.
The new type cover is night and day, I cannot believe how good it feels. The track pad is better, but its not up to the same Mac trackpad level but its a bit better.
Feel the same about the trackpad. The one on the Mac is better and also the one on my Dell 2 in 1 is also (just wish the whole unit was less bulky than it is).
I keep trying the SP4 at BB but I am not going to spend on it and end up having to buy the keyboard which adds to the cost also and for which I am not comfortable with using its trackpad to begin with.
It's not as good as my Mac now, but it's much better than it was before, and as good as any Windows trackpad I've used. I could easily live with it as my primary mobile input device. The only real complaint I have with it is not immediately sensitive to small scrolling movements - you have to give it a relatively large movement to get it going, then it responds as well as my Macbook - but the Macbook is that sensitive instantaneously every time.
I agree with you whole hardheartedly, I think its ridiculous that MS charges for the type cover when in actuality its needed to use the SP4 to its fullest potential. Now with that said, Apple does the very thing, i.e., iPad pro, you need to buy the type cover (or what ever they call), That of course doesn't make it right, but pointing out Apple has taken the same approach.
I think some folks just want a larger Ipad and don't use a keyboard on their current one anyway so will not add it on to the Pro. The cost is a bit outrageous if you ask me.
Do what I did. Have them price match the Microsoft Student price. I got the 256GB/8GBRAM/i5 with the Type Cover for the the $1299 retail price of just the SP4.
Selling the cover separately allows people people who want to use a usb or bluetooth keyboard do so without paying for a cover they don't want. It also allows people to buy an sp3 and get an sp4 cover. or even the sp3 cover with an sp4. I don't see how offering flexibility is a bad thing. Obviously Microsoft is going to charge for the cover one way or another, whether it's sold separately or part of a package.
I understand the logic, but I think overall in my flawed common sense the majority of people will get the type cover. MS did this purely to keep the price at a certain level. You're right a small minority do buy it w/o the type cover but I don't believe those numbers are high enough to justify MS' splitting it out like they did.
It's obvious that Microsoft knows that the Surface line (in actuality) "requires" the keyboard cover. Microsoft never produces an ad for the Surface where it is showcased as a tablet...the ads always include the keyboard cover. 2nd clue, Microsoft doesn't even offer a smartcover that doesn't have a keyboard. 3rd clue, the tagline for the Surface is "the tablet that can replace your laptop". In order to be a laptop-equivalent, it's going to need a physical keyboard.
Yes, it's pretty obvious.
I'm spending more time with the device, and I must say, I like it a lot. There are things that my Mac does better, but there are others the Mac just can't do. Like the attached. A handful of drawings I made in Autodesk Sketchbook.
I am not impressed with the Type Cover, however, and think that will be going back. Scrolling isn't as smooth as a Magic Trackpad I tethered to it. And I *think* the Type Cover has a pretty large effect on battery, too. A bluetooth solution is, I think, better.
I am not impressed with the Type Cover, however, and think that will be going back. Scrolling isn't as smooth as a Magic Trackpad I tethered to it. And I *think* the Type Cover has a pretty large effect on battery, too. A bluetooth solution is, I think, better.
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